English Standard Version
1 Kings 10:20
20while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom.
1 Kings 10:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.
- New International Version (NIV)Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.
- New Living Translation (NLT)There were also twelve other lions, one standing on each end of the six steps. No other throne in all the world could be compared with it!
Context of 1 Kings 10:20
18The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with the finest gold. 19The throne had six steps, and the throne had a round top, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom. 21All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. 22For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.
Read all of 1 Kings 101 Kings 10:20 word by word
וּשְׁנֵ֧ים עָשָׂ֣ר אֲרָיִ֗ים עֹמְדִ֥ים שָׁ֛ם עַל־שֵׁ֥שׁ הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת מִזֶּ֣ה וּמִזֶּ֑ה לֹֽא־נַעֲשָׂ֥ה כֵ֖ן לְכָל־מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And twelveעָשָׂר‛âώâr · tenH6240
- And twelveשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- lionsאֲרִי'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738
- stoodעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- there on the one side and on the other upon the sixשֵׁשׁshêsh shishshâh · sixH8337
- stepsמַעֲלָהma‛ălâh · stepH4609
- there was not the likeכֵּןkên · soH3651
- madeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- in any kingdomמַמְלָכָהmamlâkâh · kingdomH4467
Cross-references for 1 Kings 10:20
- Genesis 49:9Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
- Numbers 23:24Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up and as a lion it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain."
- Numbers 24:9He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you."
- Revelation 5:5And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."
Commentaries on 1 Kings 10:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Solomon‘s throne, as described, is certainly grander than any of which we have a representation, either in Assyria or Egypt. Much more, then, would it transcend the thrones in inferior kingdoms.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-29Verses 14-29 Solomon increased his wealth. Silver was nothing accounted of. Such is the nature of worldly wealth, plenty of it makes it the less valuable; much more should the enjoyment of spiritual riches lessen our esteem of all earthly possessions. If gold in abundance makes silver to be despised, shall not wisdom, and grace, and the foretastes of heaven, which are far better than gold, make gold to be lightly esteemed? See in Solomon's greatness the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-21Solomon got ivory by trading with Hiram. Kings in the Ancient Near East often used lion figures to show royal power and to symbolize divine protection of the throne.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2618-26. a great throne of ivory--It seems to have been made not of solid ivory, but veneered. It was in the form of an armchair, with a carved back. The ascent to it was by six steps, on each of which stood lions, in place of a railing--while a lion, probably of gilt metal, stood at each side, which, we may suppose from the analogy of other Oriental thrones, supported a canopy. A golden footstool is mentioned (2Ch 9:18) as attached to this throne, whose…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 10:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries